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Published on: August 21, 2014
Argonaute and Argonaute-Bound Small RNAs in Stem Cells
Lihong Zhai1, Lin Wang2, Feng Teng3
1Medical College, Hubei University of Arts and Science, Xiangyang 441053, Hubei, China. zhailihong@webmail.hzau.edu.cn.
Abstract:
Small RNAs are essential for a variety of cellular functions. Argonaute (AGO) proteins are associated with all of the different classes of small RNAs, and are indispensable in small RNA-mediated regulatory pathways. AGO proteins have been identified in various types of stem cells in diverse species from plants and animals. This review article highlights recent progress on how AGO proteins and AGO-bound small RNAs regulate the self-renewal and differentiation of distinct stem cell types, including pluripotent, germline, somatic, and cancer stem cells.
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